DAILY DIARY
10 RADIO UNIT - CAPE SCOTT, BC.
February 1, 1945 to September 19, 1945.
1 Feb 45
Weather: clear. Sea: calm. Routine normal.
2 Feb 45
Weather: clear. Sea: calm. M/V Sooke arrived at 1130 hrs. F/O Barry arrived as investigating officer re M/V Sooke. Show in evening "San Diego I Love You" - fair. P/O Sartorius left to return to Coal Harbour.
3 Feb 45
Weather: rain. Sea: rough. Routine normal. Winds reaching gale proportions, operations forced to tie gantry at 2300 hrs.
4 Feb 45
Weather: unsettled. Sea: rough. Operational again at 0700 hrs.
5 Feb 45
Weather: showers. Sea: calm. M/V Sooke in at 1145 hrs, mail canteen supplies and personnel landed. Carburetor for Caterpillar finally received, tractor now serviceable. Sooke departed at 1300 hrs. Show in evening "I Love a Soldier" - good.
6 Feb 45
Weather: rain. Sea: calm. Routine normal until high winds and gales forced stopping of gantry at 1721 hrs. Heavy seas piling up on South Beach. Show "The Girl in the Case" - fair.
7 Feb 45
Weather: rain. Sea: calm. Wood situation not so bad now with cat to haul logs. Station operational at 0600 hrs.
8 Feb 45
Weather: clear. Sea: calm. No change in routine, still awaiting replacement truck.
9 Feb 45
Weather: overcast. Sea: moderate. M/V Sooke in at 1200 hrs, departed at 1400 hrs, after discharging passengers and freight. YMCA supervisor Mr. Kelly arrived to spend the week end. Show in evening "Going My Way" - very good.
10 Feb 45
Weather: overcast. Sea: rough. LAC Parker discovered 3 Mae Wests washed up on beach (south) about 1000 hrs. Color blue- made by Charles Bloom, NYC. Kapok Life Jacket had initials SJC on pocket and name Chivas on back. Another jacket was found later with markings V-S DIV and V5G. Jackets were in good condition, not in water long, two or three days. Incident reported to Coal Harbour and #2 Filter. High winds in evening.
11 Feb 45
Weather: Overcast. Sea rough. Routine normal. One more Mae West washed ashore. Get together held in Canteen.
12 Feb 45
Weather: Cloudy. Sea moderate. M/V Sooke in at 1210 hrs. Rations brought ashore, waves were breaking heavy, and the end and sides of the barge were practically demolished, in trying to launch barge. 95 loaves of bread lost in landing operations. Show in evening "The Hairy Ape", fair.
13 Feb 45
Weather: Stormy. Sea heavy. Have been expecting truck to come in by barge but seas are too heavy. Had hail, rain and snow today. Show in evening "Random Harvest", very good. Cigarettes dropped by a/c, nil supply here for some time.
14 Feb 45
Weather: Cloudy. Sea moderate. STILL NO TRUCK. Routine normal.
15 Feb 45
Weather: Partly cloudy. Sea calm. M/V Sooke in with barge about 1300 hrs, truck unloaded with some difficulty. Barge was damaged by breakers to such an extent that the skipper of M/V Sooke deemed it wise to leave u/s truck until better weather, only oil drums returned to Port Hardy.
16 Feb 45
Weather: Partly cloudy. Sea calm. No boat today, do not understand why. Routine normal. Shortage of MT Gasoline getting serious. Weather favourable so a softball work out was held. Sort of rushing the season. Bingo held in canteen in lieu of show.
17 Feb 45
Weather: Partly cloudy. Sea fair. A cool stiff breeze swept in off the south beach, otherwise weather was fine. High winds came up causing gantry to shut down at 1627 hrs. Back on air at 2359 hrs.
18 Feb 45
Weather: Fair. Sea calm. One of the nicest days yet experienced, a nine inning softball game ensued as result of good weather. Wind coming up during night.
19 Feb 45
Weather: Rain. Sea stormy. Heavy south gales prevailing, off air for wind at 0446 hrs, drastic change from yesterday, on air at 2359 hrs. M/V Sooke in at 1130 hrs. Mail, fuel unloaded, F/O Sostad, Educational Officer arrived from CH on TD. W&B personnel also arrived on TD. Show in evening "Irish Eyes are Smiling", good.
20 Feb 45
Weather: Rain. Sea moderate. Routine normal. Show in evening "Apache Trail" and "McGuerrins from Brooklyn", fair.
21 Feb 45
Weather: stormy. Sea: rough. M/V Sooke in at 1245 hrs, W&B personnel returned to Coal Harbour. NCO's meeting held to discuss and organize more efficiently for boat days. Routine normal.
22 Feb 45
Weather: overcast. Sea: calm. Routine continued normal.
23 Feb 45
Weather: cloudy. Sea: calm. M/V Sooke in at 1300 hrs. Movie in evening "Tunisian Victory" - fair.
24 Feb 45
Weather: cloudy. Sea: calm. Nothing out of the ordinary happened.
25 Feb 45
Weather: fair. Sea: calm. Heavy winds arose later in the day. Ball game in afternoon. Off air for gales at 1055 hrs.
26 Feb 45
Weather: overcast. Sea: calm. Northerly winds, north beach rough, no boat today on account of weather.
27 Feb 45
Weather: partly cloudy. Sea: rough. On air at 1000 hrs. No boat today, it was on a mercy trip. Mail and films dropped by A/C, films detached from parachute, sustaining some damage. Show in evening "Three Hearts for Julia" - good.
28 Feb 45
Weather: overcast. Sea: calm. Routine normal. Show in evening "Summers Storm" - good. Operators conference held to discuss better and more efficient operating.
Total Strength as at 28 Feb/45
Officers - 2, Senior NCO's - 3, Junior NCO's - 15, Airmen - 35, Total - 55
(BH Anderson) F/O
CO #10 RU
Cape Scott, BC.
1 Mar 45
Weather: partly cloudy. Sea: calm. Normal routine. Ball game played in evening, followed by a show.
2 Mar 45
Weather: overcast. Sea: rough. No boat today, will be one possibly next week. Canteen meeting held in evening. Mail, official and personal carried out be pack to Holberg by two airmen.
3 Mar 45
Weather: cloudy. Sea: moderate. High winds caused operations to go off air at 2120 to 2300 hrs.
4 Mar 45
Weather: fair. Sea: moderate. Ball games in afternoon and evening. Church service held in evening also, well attended.
5 Mar 45
Weather: cloudy. Sea: moderate. No boat today, rations gone, now using emergency rations. 4 airmen walked in from Holberg carrying film. Show in evening "See Here Private Hargrove" - good.
6 Mar 45
Weather: overcast. Sea: calm. M/V Sekani in at 1130 hrs. Rations, personnel, and equipment on board. P/O Rooke RCN arrived to install beacon. Two civilian surveyors arrived for survey of new buildings. F/L Earle and NS arrived and gave TABT's to personnel.
7 Mar 45
Weather: rain, hail. Sea: rough. Sporadic showers and hail during the day.
8 Mar 45
Weather: rain. Sea: rough. Very heavy gales swept the Cape, miserable day, routine normal.
9 Mar 45
Weather: overcast. Sea: rough. M/V Sekani in at 1230 hrs. Water very rough, first boat load overturned, pinning 5 airmen underneath. By the time zoot suiters had reached the boat two men had taken in a lot of water, these airmen were treated for shock and hospitalized. Mail was salvaged but the movie "Arsenic and Old Lace" was lost, search conducted for same, but proved fruitless. Personnel finally gotten off and others embarked but not without a terrific struggle and danger to men partaking in boat day operations. No show in evening.
10 Mar 45
Weather: Overcast. Sea heavy. Rain and winds, otherwise everything normal.
11 Mar 45
Weather: Rain. Sea heavy. Heavy gales all day long, routine normal.
12 Mar 45
Weather: Cloudy. Sea rough. M/V Sekani in at 1210 hrs. Seas heavy with high surf, logs drifting made launchings dangerous. Landed some supplies and personnel on rocks, but not possible at other times. Managed to land and embark personnel without mishap, very lucky day. P/O Murphy returned off leave to find an overseas posting awaiting him. Left same boat. Show in evening "Panama Hattie", good.
13 Mar 45
Weather: Rain. Sea rough. Held orderly room trial, AWL. Show in evening "It Happened Tomorrow", good.
14 Mar 45
Weather: Overcast. Sea heavy. Heavy winds and rain, seas rolling in very heavy, miserable day, during shut down for wind overhaul party accomplished some work on units.
15 Mar 45
Weather: Cloudy. Sea fair. Normal routine. Ball game in evening.
16 Mar 45
Weather: Cloudy. Sea moderate. M/V Sekani in at 1130 hrs. F/L Argyle on board. First trip proved disastrous, boat was caught by wave breaking far offshore, sweeping boat shoreward at terrific rate and overturning it in surf, F/L Argyle pinned under boat for period of time, all occupants finally rescued. Mail and movie were salvaged. Rations unloaded. Movie in evening "Follow the Boys", good.
17 Mar 45
Weather: Calm. Sea calm. Very calm day after several days of wind and rain. F/L Argyle made the rounds of camp and oeprational site. Ball game in evening.
18 Mar 45
Weather: Overcast. Rain. Back to usual weather. Off air for wind. Heavy gales all day and night.
19 Mar 45
Weather: Clear. Sea rough. F/O Anderson left on overseas posting. Boat overturned on return trip, - mail and personnel soaked. Station off air for overhaul at 1400 hrs.
20 Mar 45
Weather: Windy. Sea rough. Routine normal. Show in evening "Song of the Open Road", good.
21 Mar 45
Weather: Windy.Sea rough. Heavy winds, electrical storm, seas very rough, show in evening "Songs of Russia", excellent.
1 Sep 45
M/V Stuart in at 0745 hours. Landing conditions good. Rations and mail in. Show in evening "The Keeper of the Flame".
2 Sep 45
Sunday and a strong southerly gale blowing. Normal routine.
3 Sep 45
Raining, clearing a bit toward noon. High seas running, rain squalls this afternoon. Normal routine.
4 Sep 45
Still raining very heavily with strong SE winds. M/V Stuart arrived at 12. 15 PM Sea fairly smooth for landing operations but high winds made rowing from Stuart to shore very difficult. However all passengers, kit and supplies were moved in a reasonably dry state. Show in evening featured "Girl Rush" which was on par with supporting short subjects and was really extremely poor and not at all a mood booster even here in the "BUSH".
5 Sep 45
Very nice day and a very nice change. Routine normal. Activity (Operational) appears to be nil. Show "Dead Man's Eyes" and supporting short features very poor indeed.
6 Sep 45
Normal routine.
7 Sep 45
Supposed to be Boat Day on a new schedule, but boat didn't show up. Steering gear on truck now so badly worn that any trip up to operations is dangerous and night trips cancelled. Very fine day.
8 Sep 45
Day dawned very nice. Boat (M/V Stuart) in at 0915 hours. Sea was rather rough for the rowboat but only one trip back and forth necessary and made with no mishaps other than shipping a lot of water. Day very fair and warm. Good ball game in evening followed by show "From Pillow to Post" which was very good and very much appreciated.
9 Sep 45
Rain, wind & fog.
10 Sep 45
More rain, more wind & more fog.
11 Sep 45
Supposed to be boat day with camp in high spirits, due to possibility of beer on board. Weather at Hardy Bay closed in and boat trip cancelled. Weather here not very good with lots of fog. Station morale still quite good, but lack of operational activity, lack of liquid refreshment in canteen and three days of dull weather create noticeable restlessness among personnel.
12 Sep 45
Fairly dull morning. Boat trip cancelled due to fog at Port Hardy.
13 Sep 45
Very nice day here. M/V Stuart in at 1400 hours. Ideal conditions for landing supplies. Beer and rations on board. Three movies and quite a lot of mail unloaded as well. In the evening quite a good ball game was played followed by the show "Great Moment" which was quite good.
14 Sep 45
Routine normal. Boys are happier. Closing orders in at last. Show "Enter Arsene Leupin"
15 Sep 45
Heavy rain during night. Finished repairing bomb-dolly. Coal was emptied out of sacks. Orders to commence dismantling received. Another good game of ball played in the evening, afterward the show "Music for Millions" was shown, a very good show.
16 Sep 45
Dismantling commenced. Halted in afternoon by rain. Show in evening "Music for Millions".
17 Sep 45
Fine day dismantling operations again. A good game of baseball was had in the evening, show was "Enter Arsene Leupin".
18 Sep 45
A very fine day. Dismantling still proceeding. Another good game of baseball was had in the evening.
19 Sep 45
Raining. M/V Seton made first run in today arriving at 12.20 PWT., landing conditions fair. One box of goods lost overboard by accident. Crating of W/T equipment started. Show in Rec Hall in evening "Having a Wonderful Crime", short "Mail Trouble". Pay parade in afternoon at 1430 hours. Station officialy disbanded today. Combination of pay parade and disbandment led to a rather gay time for everyone in Airmen's Canteen. This is the final entry in the Daily Diary of No. 10 RU Cape Scott, BC.
Strength: Officers - 2, Other ranks - 42.
(EM Overn) F/L
CO No. 10 RU
Cape Scott, BC.